So remember these babies that I started from seed, well yeah, I suppose you can see for yourself. Well for the past month the rain has been watering my porch container garden and now that it’s all sunshine out I’ve got some questions. I’m hoping some of you might have experience. So I’m going to sound like an idiot but really I just planted these cause my friend was like, hey let’s grow food, la di da. Yup. I’ll ask her tomorrow night some but I like to get multiple opinions. So here goes, don’t laugh or if you do just don’t let me know.
1. So am I supposed to pick off the yellow leaves? (if you click on the side picture it should make it bigger, the lower leaves are what I’m unsure about)
2. Are the brown dots on the leaves okay?
3. How do I know if they are getting enough water? How about too much?
4. So all I’m doing is watering them, is there something else I’m supposed to be doing.
5. Should they be all limp looking or is something wrong? Cause the tomatillo looks all strong and lush but everything else looks sad. (the picture below has the tomatillo dead center, now look at the tomatoes around, see droopy, or is that just how tomatoes are)
See told you they were pathetic questions but if any of you with a green thumb have suggestions I’d love to hear. I’m a first time veggie garden mommy so I’m hoping I’m just being paranoid but really if you notice something please tell me. 
Most of the guys in the middle are tomatoes and peppers if that helps any. Along the back fence in the top picture I’ve got snap peas (that I’m not sure will survive) and green and purple beans(I have one wee bean, I hope it lives), I’ve also got some zuccs and patty pans but I think they’re out of the shot or on the edge. Oh yeah and herbs and greens are out of shot but totally doing well. Yup so impart your knowledge on me. Please
syazwi-aljabri says
Hi there,
I’m not so good in gardening but I do have some bacis about gardening as my mom enjoy gardening.
Plant, if they are too thirsty, they will wilt..To know if the water enough, water the plant until you see water come out from the hole below the pot. Beside watering, you can give your plant some vitamin which is fertilizer. I suggest you use organic fertilizer as it is natural friendly. The brown spot on the leaf, I think it is some kind of fungi or bacteria that hurt the plant.You better pluck the sick leaf or leaf that has the brown spot before it affect the other healthy leafs.You can read online about how to take yoor plants and garden.
Well that all I can tell you. Hope you find my little information is handy and helpfull
syazwi-aljabri says
Opps I forget, make sure they got enough sunlight, air and water as these are the basic needed of a plant.
Whimsical Creations says
HI! LOL, you are too funny!
You are doing everything you should be doing. I planted my seeds a bit late this year. You can take the yellow leaves off. As for watering, feel the dirt if it is sopping wet don’t water it. Usually if the plants are in containers the dirt will dry out quickly. I try and water my plants every day.
cindi says
pick off the yellow and maybe shift them around some so they are in differnt spots …different angles from the sun and stuff. sounds like they may perk up when they dry out a little. also, don’t water tomato plants from the top. always do it at the soil level as they can get leaf rot/mold if you do it from the top. rain is okay but if it’s pouring i might bring them in, cover them a bit if possible
TaraLee says
You have tons of plants! Sweeeet. I’ve only had experience growing tomato plants, but I know if leaves are brown they are over-watered and if leaves are yellow, they’re too dry. I feed (water/miracle grow) my tomato plant once a week, but I know some people do it twice. good luck!
M.M.E. says
I’m glad other people are so knowledgeable about plants! I’d offer to help but I’m having a bugger of a time keeping 10 herb plants alive on my own! I think I’m much more cut out for art. At least I can’t overdo it.
marissa says
Thanks everyone! So I’m thinking I may have over watered them after it stopped raining, and blast it looks like it’s going to storm again so I’ve moved them kind of under stuff and by the fence so hopefully they’ll get a bit less water. Hope they don’t drown eek
Jess says
Very cool garden!
I’m a biologist, so I tend to dork out a bit about plants. I swear it helps! =)
Consider where your plants came from to know what they need. Tomatoes are native to western South America and were spread by human interventions through hot, sunny, and often wet areas. Not surprisingly, tomatoes like heat, sun, and water. Given the abundance of fruit we expect from them, they also like to be fairly well fed.
Hot peppers can be found growing in similar latitudes but in more deserty conditions; in home cultivation they’re at their hottest when they get just a little less water and not much food. Sweet peppers like gentler treatment.
Mediterranean herbs (thyme, oregano, rosemary, etc) are accustomed also to a lot of sun, relatively poor soil, dry/hot summers, and damp, moderate winters. Basil is a more tropical species from further east, and thus likes a bit more water and food to support lush growth.
Also, when in doubt, one big container of good quality potting soil will probably do more for you than two or three small ones. Room for roots is crucial and a big container will be more consistent in terms of moisture than a small one.
Regarding picking off the leaves and watering, the posts above represent what I’ve heard is good practice: pinching (not cutting) off the sick leaf just above its junction with the stem and watering pretty much every day when the soil feels dry but not leaving any standing water in your containers (depending on species).
And lastly, write down/photograph what you do! I’m still kicking myself for not documenting enough last year.
Candice says
Very impressive. Unfortunately anything plant I touch ends up croaking! :(
liliashpole says
Hi,
Really enjoy your blog, I started gardening this year too, and I thought I might add the best advice I was given for tomatoes. If you are not using a nitrogen heavy fertilizer (like miracle grow) you might try throwing in used coffee grinds, mixing it in a little with the dirt. I think this really helps them take off. Also, I pour water in at the base of the plants, rather than directly on the leaves, to avoid burning the leaves, which might be the brown spots that you mentioned. Hope this helps and good luck with your garden.